*************** FROM CHUCK TUCKER 930525 ***************
I will comment on the excellent comments by Bruce, Tom, Rick, Bill
and Bob on the topics of social organization, language and social
environment at a later date but I could not pass up a comment on
the post by Greg Williams (930525) on an additon to the Devil's
bibliography (has anyone else noticed that there is a recurrence
of religious words on the net).
I think it is very easy for any of us (some do it quicker that others
I have noticed; I can't account for it!) to dismiss these statements
as coming from persons who are ignorant, foolish, stupid or just plain
sinful BUT I would suggest that we might all learn something if the
statements are treated as serious problems with CT (or PCT or HPCT)
and point out how we would deal with them. I know that some of you
will say that we (several of us) have already done this work but
I have heard every one of the "flaws" mentioned in my discussions
with students and a few fellow faculty members (I reserved the word
'colleague' for a particular relationship). One that I noticed that
is of particular importance to me is the mechanical or static view
of PCT. I know you can say "the closed loop is always active; it is
continuous action" but what has not been disucssed is the "fact" that
the human being is active from birth until death and that we don't
have to account for how it gets stated only the various dirtections
or paths that it takes in the course of life. To point this out would
take away the argument of S-R motivation.
Regards,
Chuck